Michele's+Trip

Michele's Trip

Lesson Plan Format It’s All About Me! Memoir Writing: An Invitation to Write

Writing Standards 6-12 Text Types and Purposes 3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
 * Date: 6/15/11 by Michele Benefiel || Class and level: Writing Grade 9 ||
 * KSDE Standards:

Production and Distribution of Writing 4.Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purposes, and audience.

Range of Writing 10. Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Language Standards 6-12 Conventions of Standard English 1.Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. 2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Knowledge of Language 3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts to make effective choices for meaning or style and to comprehend more fully when listening or reading. || Learning Goals: Students will discuss the importance of memories in the development of who they are by answering “slam” questions in a go-around manner. The questions will be asked in notebooks and passed around the room. || A – Slam book go-around. Discuss how slam book questions help facilitate four things: B – Introduce mini-memoir writing using the following process: Class will share chapter or chapters from their mini-memoirs and gather feedback from peers. ||
 * Students will learn to write, edit, prepare, and share mini-memoirs.
 * Students will learn about narrative writing.
 * Students will learn that writing doesn’t have to be boring.
 * Students will learn to make choices in their writing.
 * Students will learn to share their work with their peers. ||
 * Lesson Objectives:
 * Students will be introduced to writing in a non-threatening way by offering them choices and connectivity.
 * Students will learn to creatively express themselves by answering questions about themselves.
 * Students will learn to share responses to questions with peers and receive feedback.
 * Students will learn to organize their thoughts and write an outline for a mini-memoir.
 * Students will write a mini-memoir based on their interests and choices of topics.
 * Students will learn to revise their essays and prepare them for final draft. || Prior Knowledge:
 * 6-trait writing rubric
 * Parts of speech
 * Types of sentences
 * Formatting
 * Literature terms
 * Types of writing ||
 * Material and Technology Needs
 * Note books with Slam questions inside
 * Paper
 * Pen
 * Computer (if choose to use) || Vocabulary/Formulas:
 * Memoir
 * Anecdote
 * Simile
 * Metaphor
 * Imagery
 * Irony
 * Flashback
 * Foreshadowing ||
 * Focus Activity:
 * Lesson Procedures with high level questions identified:
 * 1) 1. Help students get to know one another in a non-threatening and creative fashion
 * 2) 2. Help students see that writing doesn’t have to be boring or difficult.
 * 3) 3. Help students “break the ice” and encourage the memoir writing process.
 * 4) 4. Helps students make choices and take ownership of the writing process.
 * 1) 1. Select 6 to 10 “slam” questions to include in mini-memoir
 * 2) 2. Create a chapter outline for the mini-memoir
 * 3) 3. Have students create 1 chapter for each slam topic
 * 4) 4. Create a memoir that is cohesive, interesting, and easy-to-follow ||
 * Closure Activity:

Additional Information


 * Assistance/Adaptations/Re-teaching ||
 * Assessment:

Pre-Assessment – What did you do?

Formative – How will you know what the students learned BEFORE post-assess?

Post –Assessment – How will a grade be assigned? || Michele Bibliography
 * Reflection Notes - what I would do differently (better) next time: ||

Cameron, Julia. (1998). //The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the// //Writing Life//. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc.

Gallagher, Kelly. (2006). //Teaching Adolescent Writers//. Portland: Stenhouse Publishers.

Lammont, Anne. (1994). //Bird by Bird//. New York: Anchor Books.

Peterson, Art. (1996). //The Writer’s Workout Book//. Berkeley: National Writing Project.


 * Super Duper Questions to Use for Slam Books That Will Get Kids Interested in Writing, Get Kids to Write Mini-memoirs, and Help Them Create a Safe Writing Group by Getting to Know One Another and Other Cool Stuff **


 * Compiled by Michele Guiol **


 * 1) ** 1. ** ** What is your favorite food, why? **
 * 2) ** 2. ** ** What is your favorite book, why? **
 * 3) ** 3. ** ** What is your favorite movie, why? **
 * 4) ** 4. ** ** What is your favorite song, why? **
 * 5) ** 5. ** ** What is your favorite place, why? **
 * 6) ** 6. ** ** What are your top 5 memories? **
 * 7) ** 7. ** ** What are your top 5 favorite things? **
 * 8) ** 8. ** ** What are the 5 most beautiful words you’ve ever heard? **
 * 9) ** 9. ** ** What are your top 5 least favorite things? **
 * 10.What are the 5 ugliest words you’ve ever heard? **
 * 11. What is your favorite emotion, why? **
 * 12. What is your least favorite emotion, why? **
 * 13. What are your top 5 wishes? **
 * 14. What animal are you, why? **
 * 15. What season are you, why? **
 * 16. What music are you, why? **
 * 17. What food are you, why? **
 * 18. What place are you, why? **
 * 19. What color are you, why? **
 * 20. What 5 dinner guests (dead or alive, real or imaginary) do you want at your party? **
 * 21. What 5 words best describe you? **
 * 22. In 1 word, what does love feel like? **
 * 23. In 1 word, what does hate feel like? **
 * 24. In 1 word, what does joy feel like? **
 * 25. In 1 word, what does sadness feel like? **
 * 26. In 1 word, what does jealousy feel like? **
 * 27. In 1 word, what does hunger feel like? **
 * 28. What are the top 5 best inventions? **
 * 29. What are the top 5 worst inventions? **
 * 30. What 5 things bug you the most? **
 * 31. What photograph do you remember the most? **
 * 32. What is your most treasured possession? **


 * 33. What is your greatest achievement? **
 * 34. What 5 things make you laugh the loudest? **
 * 35. What 5 people do you admire the most? **
 * 36. What is your biggest regret in life? **
 * 37. What 5 things are on your “bucket” list? **
 * 38. What is your favorite saying? **
 * 39. What do you wonder most about? **
 * 40. What are you an “expert” at? **
 * 41. What is your ultimate goal in life? **
 * 42. What top 5 qualities do you look for in a partner? **
 * 43. What is the greatest virtue one can have? **
 * 44. What is the 1 thing you want people to remember about you after you are gone? **